The path for a deep Philadelphia 76ers playoff run just got exponentially more difficult. ESPN is reporting that their star point forward Ben Simmons will likely miss the rest of the season due to arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, putting a dent in what already had been a frustrating season for Philadelphia.
The surgery will look to remove a “loose body” from Simmons’s knee, and will take place in the next few days. Giving the expected recovery time, the 24-year-old would only be able to return to the court if the Sixers make a deep run into the playoffs without him
According to ESPN, the injury happened during Philadelphia’s 107-98 win over the Washington Wizards; Simmons suffered a “left patella subluxation,” which means that his kneecap popped out during the game but then rebounded back in on its own. However, in that process, it appears something got loose in the patella, which is why he now requires surgery.
Simmons’s absence will leave the Sixers with a playmaking hole for the rest of the season: he is averaging 8 assists per game for the entire season. He also is a key cog in their defensive gameplans, so head coach Brett Brown will have to redraw up his schemes without the rangy All-Star in the mix.
One possible bright side for Philadelphia is that they can now run lineups that feature fellow All-Star, center Joel Embiid, and just surround him with shooters. One big man and four shooters has been a proven success in the modern NBA, so while the Sixers would rather have Simmons on the court, they could thrive in a faster-paced system that gives Embiid more room to operate near the basket.
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